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  Vent apparatusUSPTO Application #: 20060025067Title: Vent apparatus Abstract: A vent comprises a cover member having a cover member surface which defines at least a portion of a vent passageway. The cover member has at least one first connector and at least one second connector spaced outwardly from the first connector. The first and second connectors operable to provide pivotal coupling to a damper. (end of abstract)
Agent: Oyen, Wiggs, Green & Mutala LLP 480 - The Station - Vancouver, BC, CA Inventor: Juergen Koessler USPTO Applicaton #: 20060025067 - Class: 454359000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Ventilation, Having Outlet Airway, Having Readliy Movable Air Regulating Louver, Damper, Or Cover, Including Backdraft Preventer The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060025067. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/743,819 filed on 24 Dec. 2003. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The invention pertains to vents. Particular embodiments of the invention relate to vents used in buildings. BACKGROUND [0003] Many buildings have vents which provide routes for exchange, ventilation, circulation and/or movement of gas through the building envelope. Such gases may comprise air or water vapour, for example. Buildings may have ventilation systems, which take in "fresh" air from outside of the building and expel "stale" air from inside the building. Fresh air may be taken into a building or stale air may be expelled from a building through one or more vents. Some buildings incorporate other systems and/or apparatus, such as air conditioning systems, range hoods and forced air clothes dryers, which require gas flow between the inside and outside of a building. [0004] Typically, a vent is associated with a conduit which conveys gas toward or away from the vent. A vent typically comprises a vent passageway in fluid communication with the associated conduit to provide a means for gas flow through the building envelope. Vents may provide a number of additional functions. For example, vents may comprise weatherproofing features to minimize the amount of moisture leakage into the building or the building layers. Vents may also provide aesthetically pleasing exposed portions. [0005] There are many vent designs known in the art. For example: [0006] Canadian patent No. 2,062,907 (Sirjoo) discloses a vent incorporating an adjustable screw cap vent cover which extends outwardly from the external wall of a building and which is adjustable to permit air flow through the vent when the cap is open and to prevent air flow through the vent when the cap is closed; and [0007] Canadian patent No. 2,357,531 (Myint) shows a security air vent which allows for the flow of air, but which comprises a screen having S-shaped structural members for preventing the back flow of solids or liquids into the associated building aperture. [0008] Some vents comprise vent covers which extend outwardly from the exterior surface of the building. Such vent covers may provide weatherproofing for the vent and may also provide desirable aesthetics. Vents and vent covers may be formed in a single unitary construction. [0009] Vents are preferably sized and shaped such that they are easily mounted to the building structure and easily coupled to their associated conduits. Typically, a vent comprises a flange or the like, which is sized and shaped to engage its associated conduit. Where vents and vent covers are made from a single unitary construction, a separate vent and vent cover combination is required for each size and shape of conduit. [0010] Vents may incorporate dampers to control the flow of gases and/or other materials through the vent. Typically, a damper is formed from a flat (i.e. planar) piece of material that is hingeably mounted to permit flow of gas through the vent in a desired direction and to restrict flow of gas through the vent in the opposing direction. Some dampers undesirably restrict the flow of gas in the desired direction. [0011] Some vents (or vent covers) comprise screens. Typically, such screens are integrally formed with the vent or are attached to the vent using fasteners, such as staples, screws, rivets or the like. Screens help to prevent debris from accumulating in the vent and from potentially entering into the building interior. As screens are typically located near the outermost ends of vents, there is a considerable likelihood for a screen to be damaged or to weaken over time because of exposure to the elements. Replacement of a screen that is integrally formed with a vent component requires replacing the entire vent component and may require removal of outer building layers. Replacement of a screen that is attached to a vent component using fasteners requires removing and replacing the fasteners which can damage the body of the vent component. [0012] There is a general desire to provide vents which ameliorate at least some of the aforementioned or other disadvantages of existing vents. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0013] A first aspect of the invention provides vents comprising a cover member having a cover member surface which defines at least a portion of a vent passageway. The cover member comprises at least one first connector and at least one second connector spaced outwardly from the first connector. The first and second connectors are operable to provide pivotal coupling to a damper. [0014] Another aspect of the invention provides vents comprising: a cover member having a cover member surface which defines at least a portion of a vent passageway; and an adapter member which provides a through passageway and which is coupleable to the cover member at its exterior end and to a conduit at its interior end to provide fluid communication between the vent passageway and the conduit. The cover member comprises a plurality of first hook members and the adapter member comprises a plurality of second hook members engageable with the first hook members for coupling the adapter member to the cover member. [0015] Another aspect of the invention provides vents comprising: a cover member having a cover member surface which defines at least a portion of a vent passageway; an adapter member which provides a through passageway and which is coupleable to the cover member at its exterior end and to a conduit at its interior end to provide fluid communication between the vent passageway and the conduit; and a screen which is pivotally coupled to a first connector of the cover member and which is pivotable to a first position where the screen spans the vent passageway and a second position where the screen allows access to the vent passageway. [0016] Further aspects of the invention, features of specific embodiments of the invention and applications of the invention are described below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] In drawings which depict non-limiting embodiments of the invention: [0018] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a vent according to a particular embodiment of the invention; [0019] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the FIG. 1 vent installed in the pitched roof of a building; [0020] FIG. 3A is an isometric view of the screen of the FIG. 1 vent; [0021] FIG. 3B is an isometric view of a vent screen according to an alternative embodiment of the invention; Continue reading... Full patent description for Vent apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Vent apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. 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